Updated 11.05
IRELAND’S ROB HEFFERNAN has claimed a gold medal in the 50k walk at the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow this morning.
Heffernan finished in first place, over a minute ahead of his nearest challenger, Russia’s Mikhail Ryzhov.
In addition, his time of 3:37:56 was the fastest of the year.
The result follows his fourth place finish at the London Olympics, in which he came agonisingly close to securing a bronze medal.
He becomes the first Irish athlete to win gold at the World Championships since Sonia O’Sullivan in 1995, and only the second ever male athlete to triumph at the event, after Eamonn Coghlan in 1983.
And there was success for Ireland’s other representative as Donegal’s Brendan Boyce, who is trained by Heffernan, finished 25th in a personal best time of 3:54:24.
First published at 9.12
Can’t see Pat Horgan doing much damage on Dan Morrissey. Too strong/tall/fast/tight. Could be wrong but hope it’s a cracker either way
@Ado Smith: morrissey is awkward enuf with the space of croke park horgan cud do real damage.
@Jim: Morrissey is totally underrated. Hoggie was a great player. We’ll see
Hoggy one of best hurlers cork ever produced. Should be a great battle
Let’s hope hurling wins rather than tactics..
@UK Hurling Bloke: bit naive to think tactics won’t influence it but should be a belter